Combined steering and propelling device.



No. 833,218. I Y PATENT!!!) new. 16, 1906.

. s. w. JENNINGS. a

COMBINED STEERING AND PROPELLING DEVICE.

' APPLICATION FILED 0013.18. 1905- a sums-sum '2.

FIG. 3.

INVEN'IOH SIDNEY "W. JENNINGS.

. tion, and in which similar letters of reference UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SIDNEY WARWICK JENNINGS, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

' COMBINED STEERING AND PROPELLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented. Oct. 16, 1906.

Application filed October 18,1905. Serial No. 283,204;

:yice, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description. My invention relates to steering and pro- ..Plling apparatus for vessels; and its object is'to do away with the use of a rudder and utilize the propellers to steer the vessel.

This object is accomplished by employing two oppositelyrevolving and oppositelypitched propellers so mounted that the angle between the axis of the vessel and the plane of the propellers revolution may be changed at will by means of a steering mechanism, thus causing the thrust of the propellers to change the direction of the boat while forcing it ahead.

The advantage ofthis device is that the propelling force will be exerted to change-the direction of a vessel instead of driving. it in a straight line, as has heretofore been the case.

A further advantage is that in small motor-boats of the torpedo-stern type the motor will not have to be tilted back to allow the shaft to emerge from the hull in the proper place.

A still further advantage will be obtained in raising the water-line of the vessel, thus diminishing the necessity of a water-tight packing to prevent leaking.

In the drawings which illustrate my invenrefer to similar parts throughout, Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view'through the stern of a motor-boat, showing the application of my device thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the steering-wheel located, preferably, toward the bow of tht boat. Fig. 3 is a diagram of the steerin -gear connections. Fig. 4 is a view of the un er part of the stern of a boat with my device attached thereto, showing the bracket for supporting the same.

Referring to the parts, A designates the hull of a boat, B the deck, and C the coaming.

D is the main shaft from the engine or motor running in the bearing D and provided on its aftermost extremity with a fixed bevel-. gear D adapted to mesh withthe gear E on the upper end of the hollow shaft E. The lower extremity of the shaft E is provided with a second bevel-gear E, which mesheswith the gears G rigidly, attached to the propellers G and G. Each of these propellers is mounted on a shaft F rigidly attached to the vertical spindle F, whichpasses through the hollow shaft E, and is provided toward its upper end with a suitable sprocket-gear H and at its upper extremity with a wheel K, which may be .used to steer the boat if the steering-gear should become disabled. The lower end of the spindleF-bears in the bracket 0, which is strengthened by the transverse stays 0. Immediately below the sprocketgear H is a ball-bearing F to give strength and perfect mesh to the gears D and E. The hollow shaft E is led through a ball-bearing E which for security against leaking is provided with a sleeve E extending to the exterior of the hull, as shown in Fig. 1. A sprocket-chain J passes around the wheel H and is led through guide-pulleys P to the front of the boat, where it passes around a sprocket L, rigidly attached to the steering-wheel M, which bears the manuallyoperated ratchet M, adapted to engage the ratchet-wheel N, rigidly attached to the bracket N The operation of my device is as follows: The engine having been started, rotary motion is transmitted through the shaft D, which by means of the bevel-gears D and E- rotates the hollow shaft E, provided at its lower extremity with the bevel-gear E which meshes with the gears G on the propellers G and G, turning them in opposite directions. Since these propellers are oppositely pitched and rotate in opposite directions, it will ,be seen that they both exert a thrust in the same direction. When it is desired to turn the boat, the ratchet M is released from the ratchet-wheel N, and the steering-wheel M is turned as desired. This wheel carries with it the endless rope or chain J and transmits motion to the spindle F, which is provided-with a fixed transverse arm F on which the propellers revolve.

When the spindle F is turned, the plane of the propellers is changed from its normal position at right angles to the line of direction of the boat, causing the propellers to exert a thrust in a sidewise direction. This side thrust swings'the stern of the boat and causes it to turn as though it were momentarily pivoted on the bow. It will thus be seen that a vessel may be operated and'controlled by means of the steering-gear alone without havin to stop or reverse the engine. The prope lers may be turned through any .de-

sired angle and the boat driven straight ahead, turned in either direction, or driven backward by a single operator.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, I do not wish to limit myself to the recise construction shown, as I may use on y one propeller instead of two and may make such other changes as fall within the scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention so that the same may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

In a steering and propelling device for vessels, the combination-of a horizontal main shaft, a hollow vertical drivin -shaft engaging said main shaft, a beve -gear on the lower end of said hollow shaft, a pair of oppositely-pitched propellers adapted to be rotated in opposite directions by said hollowshaft, a solid steering-shaft extending through said hollow shaft, a pair of transverse arms on said solid shaft for supporting the propellers, a bracl et supporting the lower end of said solid shaft, a ball-bearing supporting the upper end of said hollowshaft, a sleeve sur rounding said hollow shaft and extending from the exterior of the hull to said bearing, a sprocket-wheel on said solid shaft, a chain engaging said wheel and connected to a steering-wheel in the forward end of the boat, and an independentlyoperated steeringwheel attached to the upper extremity of said solid shaft.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

SIDNEY WARWICK JENNINGS.

Witnesses:

C. W. TAYLOR, STUART R. W. ALLEN. 

